BATON ROUGE – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced the capital construction proposal for the next fiscal year (FY 2014), which includes millions in funding for projects in North Louisiana. The proposal was submitted Monday to the Legislature in the form of House Bill 2 and includes several investments in higher education projects. Since 2008, the Jindal administration has supported more than $700 million dollars in critical higher education infrastructure investments across the state, including more than $225 million for Louisiana Community and Technical College campuses.

Key projects include $8.05 million for Sandel Hall renovations at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, $3.5 million for a new classroom building at Southern University, Shreveport, $20 million for construction and utilities for I-49 from I-220 in the City of Shreveport to the Arkansas state line in Caddo Parish, and $14 million for replacement of Shreveport’s North Louisiana Criminalistics Lab in Caddo Parish.

Governor Jindal said, “North Louisiana is already one of the best places in the country to live, to work, to study and to raise a family. By investing more dollars at our higher education institutions and in our roads, we can enhance the learning environment for students and make transportation this community relies on safer and more accessible. Doing so will continue attracting job creators who want to invest and provide opportunities for our people.”

Higher Education Investments in North Louisiana include:

$8.05 million for Sandel Hall renovations at the University of Louisiana-Monroe in Ouachita Parish;

$360,000 for planning and construction for the Underground Electrical Distribution System at the University of Louisiana-Monroe in Ouachita Parish, with $3.24 million in Priority 5 funding for a total investment of $3.6 million;

$3.5 million for planning and construction for the new classroom building at Southern University, Shreveport in Caddo Parish;

$200,000 for campus utility infrastructure assessment and emergency repairs and replacement at Grambling State University in Lincoln Parish;

$2.25 million for roof replacements for campus buildings at Grambling State University in Lincoln Parish;

$950,000 for the Bogard Hall roof replacement and waterproofing at Louisiana Tech University in Lincoln Parish, with $950,000 in Priority 5 funding for a total investment of $1.9 million;

$1 million for renovations to Long-Jones Hall at Grambling State University in Lincoln Parish;

$1 million for water system improvements and repairs at Louisiana Tech University in Lincoln Parish.

Transportation Investments in North Louisiana include:

$20 million for I-49 from I-220 from the City of Shreveport to the Arkansas State Line for construction, right of way and utilities in Caddo Parish;

$2 million for planning and construction for LA Highway 616 at Caldwell Road to LA Highway 143 in Ouachita Parish, with $9.6 million in Priority 5 funding for a total investment of $11.6 million;

$5.4 million in Priority 5 Funding for planning and construction for the East Natchitoches By-Pass Project Phase 1 from Highway 6 East to Highway 1226 in Natchitoches Parish;

$2 million for planning and construction for the Monroe Regional Airport Terminal in Ouachita Parish;

$430,000 for Wiles Road reconstruction in Caldwell Parish;

$390,000 for planning and construction of Highway 71 Street Lighting Project from LA 3032 to LA 511 in Bossier Parish.

Additional Investments in North Louisiana include:

$14 million for replacement of Shreveport’s North Louisiana Criminalistics Lab in Caddo Parish;

$5.8 million for acquisition, planning and construction for Poverty Point Reservoir State Park Group Camp, Conference Center and site amenities in Richland Parish;

$6.245 million for planning and construction of District 1 sewerage in Bossier Parish, with $255,000 in Priority 5 funding for a total investment of $6.5 million;

$4.8 million for P.E.T. clinical and research imaging equipment in Caddo Parish;

$2.7 million for a patient care HVAC replacement at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport in Caddo Parish;

$2.2 million for planning and construction of a public safety complex in Lincoln Parish;

$1.85 million for planning and construction for a new dormitory building at Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches Parish, with $22.15 million in Priority 5 funding for a total investment of $24 million;

$700,000 for improvements to Village of Sikes water system extensions in Winn Parish;

$1 million for planning and construction for the Mississippi River Levee Raising from Arkansas to Old River in Avoyelles, Concordia, East Carroll, Madison, Pointe Coupee, and Tensas Parish;

$800,000 for planning and construction for the Northeast Louisiana State Cemetery in Ouachita Parish;

$660,000 for planning and construction for water main extensions with connections, a booster station and emergency power improvements in Jackson Parish;

$600,000 for engineering, right of way, utilities and construction for Tarbutton Road I-20 Interchange in Lincoln Parish;

$450,000 in Priority 5 funding for planning and construction of the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Caddo Parish;

$365,000 for planning and construction of Phase 2 Camp Minden infrastructure and rehabilitation in Webster Parish;

$315,000 for connections, equipment, planning and construction for a replacement water well in Winn Parish;

$200,000 for acquisition and installation for digital mammography machine at Homer Memorial Hospital in Claiborne Parish;

$200,000 for planning and construction for the LA 810 extension water distribution system expansion in Jackson Parish;

$200,000 for planning and construction for Site No. 4 water system renovations and improvements in Ouachita Parish.

The Division of Administration’s Office of Facility Planning and Control annually prepares the capital outlay bill, submitting it to the Legislature on the eighth day of the legislative session.